A group of ants carrying leaf fragments.

What Counts as Good Evidence? Making Sense of Digital Mental Health Trials

Author: Alexia Jeayes // Editors: Emily Barrett & Federica Spaggiari We often assume that more research in digital mental health means better answers... But what if it isn’t giving us the answers we need? The evidence researchers generate must be relevant, transparent, and shaped by the needs of everyone who relies on it to make … Continue reading What Counts as Good Evidence? Making Sense of Digital Mental Health Trials

The buried truth about body farms and scientific lessons from decay

Author: Cherene de Bruyn // Editors: Erin Pallott & Sarah Klingberg Cover image: Kusozu: the death of a noble lady and the decay of her body. Watercolours. Credit: Wellcome Collection Attribution Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0). Source: Look and Learn  Forensics of Death, Decay and Decomposition Like many people, my first introduction to forensics … Continue reading The buried truth about body farms and scientific lessons from decay

Polygenic risk scores: calculating the likelihood of complex diseases

Author: Nina Wycech // Editors: Neve Diggle and Emily Barrett Even if you are not studying science, you have likely heard about genetic predispositions. We intuitively assume that we’re more likely to experience a disease that our ancestors had. Although not always true, many conditions run through generations, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention … Continue reading Polygenic risk scores: calculating the likelihood of complex diseases

Proton Therapy: Precise Cancer Treatment at What Cost?

Author: Emily Barrett // Editors: Federica Spaggiari and Sophie Alshukri What does the word ‘radiation’ make you think of? In physics, the definition is broad: Any kind of emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or moving particles, including the light we use to see. But for many people, ‘radiation’ is synonymous with ionising radiation, with … Continue reading Proton Therapy: Precise Cancer Treatment at What Cost?

What’s Hiding in Your Cosmetics Bag? A Closer Look at Parabens as Endocrine Disruptors

Author: Dalia Aziz // Editor: Nithya Eswaran You have likely come across the term “endocrine disruptor”, particularly on social media, which got me wondering - what is an endocrine disruptor? How do they work, and are they truly as harmful as people say? According to the Endocrine Society, there are nearly 85,000 synthetic chemicals in the … Continue reading What’s Hiding in Your Cosmetics Bag? A Closer Look at Parabens as Endocrine Disruptors

Navigating the PhD journey amid prolonged conflict: Challenges, growth, and resilience

Author: Osman Khaleel // Editor: Cherene de Bruyn Cover image from Pexels *Archaeology: The study of past human cultures through the material culture (artefacts) left behind. *Lithics: Archaeological artefacts made from stone, including hand axes, scrapers, projectile points and knives. *Cataracts: Areas on the Nile between Aswan and Khartoum where the water is shallow. BACKGROUND Growing … Continue reading Navigating the PhD journey amid prolonged conflict: Challenges, growth, and resilience

Storytelling for Scientists: When You Need it and What to Do

Author: Zoe Chernova // Editor: Erin Pallott “People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around.” Terry Pratchett Our whole lives are stories. We tell them to our children, read them in books, and can't tear ourselves away from TV series precisely because we love stories. Our minds are … Continue reading Storytelling for Scientists: When You Need it and What to Do